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I love this series as well! *crosses fingers with all of you in hopes for a 3rd season*

It's so intricate, and most of the plot lines are incredible, barring some boring arcs (but even those arcs have info contributing to the next arcs). There was a lot of stuff that I missed the first time around -- it's surprising how much stuff goes on without you even realizing it upon the first viewing.

The only qualms that I have stem from the appearance of deteriorating animation quality later in the series. I'm sure this is a result of budget problems (seeing as how they had quite a few recap episodes), but it would be nice to see a third season with higher production values. I wish the characters would blink more, that there would be more movements, but I guess somethings cannot be helped.

But my one big question is: couldn't she have accomplished all she had wanted as Empress? I know this is a futile question, seeing as how this is not the plot, but it bugs me. :P

But my one big question is: couldn't she have accomplished all she had wanted as Empress? I know this is a futile question, seeing as how this is not the plot, but it bugs me. :P

This is something that the anime hasn't brought to light (yet, hopefully) but she has her reasons why this approach doesn't work for her. They did a lot of the setup work already and it's probably possible to be deduced but they haven't come right out and spelled it out yet.

But my one big question is: couldn't she have accomplished all she had wanted as Empress? I know this is a futile question, seeing as how this is not the plot, but it bugs me. :P

what you don't understand is that the empress job is to just look pretty and make babies.
She has no real power and she can't be involved with politics. Shuurei wants to change this and also wants to be of help to her country. she can accomplish this better as a official than as the empress.

This is something that the anime hasn't brought to light (yet, hopefully) but she has her reasons why this approach doesn't work for her. They did a lot of the setup work already and it's probably possible to be deduced but they haven't come right out and spelled it out yet.

Hmmm, well, if it's a question of warring families and political pressure, then I understand. But, as you said, these reasons are never amplified in the anime. Instead, the anime cites her own ambitions as reasons for not marrying him. Well, in the end, it doesn't really matter because they will continue to string their romance along until the very end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by golthin

what you don't understand is that the empress job is to just look pretty and make babies.
She has no real power and she can't be involved with politics. Shuurei wants to change this and also wants to be of help to her country. she can accomplish this better as a official than as the empress.

Thank you for explaining to me what I failed to understand.

But, by your line of reasoning, wouldn't she also be able to change the influence and responsibilities that an Empress can hold as well (again, I know this is not the plot, but I'm just arguing against your explanation)? In fact, she would probably be in a better position to do so as Empress, as it appears that she has a lot of support from within the palace. Not to mention -- she would have Ryu's ears as well (not that it counts for much seeing as how his abilities are still being questioned).

But, by your line of reasoning, wouldn't she also be able to change the influence and responsibilities that an Empress can hold as well (again, I know this is not the plot, but I'm just arguing against your explanation)? In fact, she would probably be in a better position to do so as Empress, as it appears that she has a lot of support from within the palace. Not to mention -- she would have Ryu's ears as well (not that it counts for much seeing as how his abilities are still being questioned).

I actually thought of a possibility that the story could end with them changing the position of empress so the position has more political power. But I don't necessarily think this would be easy to change. I think society expects the empress to fill a certain role and it is based on traditions. I don't think Ryuuki can just snap his fingers and change it so the queen has political power. If he does something like that he could lose support of the court and the noble families.

I actually thought of a possibility that the story could end with them changing the position of empress so the position has more political power. But I don't necessarily think this would be easy to change. I think society expects the empress to fill a certain role and it is based on traditions. I don't think Ryuuki can just snap his fingers and change it so the queen has political power. If he does something like that he could lose support of the court and the noble families.

Well, he did change the emperor's marital ability from being polygamous to monogamous pretty much by snapping his fingers, so why not? Of course, in reality it probably wouldn't work that way, and we can see that everyone's been frothing at the mouth over how Shuurei is in the government at all...

One thing that really bothers me about the second season:

Spoiler for Events after the Sashuu arc:

After Shuurei is demoted back to jyoukan, people treat her like she's absolute dirty. C'mon, the woman was the third highest scorer on the national exam, she was already the governor of a province (technically a dual government, but still-), she single-handedly dealt with a medical issue and with corruption in the province... and yet she's treated as though she has no experience or ability. I understand that most of the government characters hate her for breaking the gender barrier, but the fact that she gets zero respect (not even grudgingly, as in a raising of the eyebrows in surprise type) really irks me.

Hooray for being humble and all that, but I was also bothered that she doesn't put anyone in their place by strutting her stuff. You know, a sort of "wow Seiga-kun, that's great work! Why, it's almost half as impressive as WHEN I WAS THE FRIKKIN' GOVERNOR OF SASHUU AND STRAIGHTENED OUT THE SA FAMILY!" That sort of thing.

what you don't understand is that the empress job is to just look pretty and make babies.
She has no real power and she can't be involved with politics. Shuurei wants to change this and also wants to be of help to her country. she can accomplish this better as a official than as the empress.

There's a reason why she hasn't accepted and refused to be an empress, yet.

Spoiler:

It's because Shuurei is infertile, so he still has to take on a mistress or marry someone else to produce a heir, especially for the people's satisfactory.

There's a reason why she hasn't accepted and refused to be an empress, yet.

Spoiler:

It's because Shuurei is infertile, so he still has to take on a mistress or marry someone else to produce a heir, especially for the people's satisfactory.

If there will be a 3rd season and follow the novels, that is.

OMG!! For real!! She can't be an empress then and all the power that comes with it. It makes sense on why she is trying to climb the ranks.

So who are the ending couples? Who ended with who and who died? Anyone know how each of the character's rank change?
Anyone know? I doubt there will be a third season since second season isn't really all that exciting and interesting.

I doubt there will be a third season since second season isn't really all that exciting and interesting.

The second season started off slow and sort of dragged - the Sashuu arc felt like the longest arc in the entire series (animated, at least), and I felt that it really got old fast. Part of what made the series so entertaining was the palace drama and the character Ryuuki, and that was essentially cut out with Sashuu.

However, once that arc ended, things became interesting again. You said that you're still watching the second season - get to the end before you say it was boring I thought that the second season's middle and end really picked up. Similar to the first season, it ends in such a manner that they could have just as easily made another episode. I'd love to see the continuation of that story arc.

that is another reason, and I mentioned it in a post a while back. It basically invalidate the main job of an Empress.

Spoiler for Glothin question about Shuurei:

Hey golthin i thought that Shuurei might be infertile. It was implied that it was hard for her mother to conceive because of her illness and everything thought she was infertile, however she became pregnant with Shuurei thats why they call her a miracle. They said Shuurei probably but not 100% might have her mother's illness and it was implied that she might be infertile but not proven. Did I miss read something i will have to go back and check.

Hey golthin i thought that Shuurei might be infertile. It was implied that it was hard for her mother to conceive because of her illness and everything thought she was infertile, however she became pregnant with Shuurei thats why they call her a miracle. They said Shuurei probably but not 100% might have her mother's illness and it was implied that she might be infertile but not proven. Did I miss read something i will have to go back and check.

that is correct, they would be expecting a second miracle with Shuurei.

Spoiler for about Shuurei:

The only reason she is alive is because her mother gave her life force to her. Shuurei is living in barrowed time as the latest novel revealed.

that is correct, they would be expecting a second miracle with Shuurei.

Spoiler for about Shuurei:

The only reason she is alive is because her mother gave her life force to her. Shuurei is living in barrowed time as the latest novel revealed.

Spoiler for reply:

Thats what im worried about Shuurei is one of my favorite female leads, however if everything plays out the way i hoped history could repeat itself with her possibly giving birth only to die later. I was hoping that with the somewhat magical aspect of the series they would find away to extend her life. Oh well unless i get my hands on the novels i wont know. Im still crossing my fingers for a 3rd season i will be heart broken if it doesn't happen.

When officials from the Hong clan are dismissed from all of their imperial posts and return home in protest, Shuurei travels to Hong province to bring her father and other key members back to the capital, after which she agrees to resign from her own post and enter the Inner Palace as Ryuuki's consort.

Spoiler for Woah:

So Shuurei become Ryuki's consort again? Does it mean Ryuki did win in their little contest?